How do you tell if other wireless networks are interfering with yours? The clearest signs are stutters and drops: file transfers or streaming downloads halt and restart, or your network connection periodically drops out altogether.

My wireless G network has become less useful now that almost everyone in my neighborhood is using wireless as well. iStumbler shows over 15 wireless networks ( more than half are secure ). I get my phone and internet connection from the cable company so I have all my network equipment in the basement to avoid the ugly mess of wires and the cost of adding a phone line to the family room (Verizon want way too much money for that).

4 of the computers in the house are wireless (2 laptops, a Mac mini in the family room, and a Dell for the kids ) and so is the Tivo and Nintendo Wii. The two remaining computers ( FreeBSD based NAS and a Red Hat Linux server ) are connected to a Linksys WR54G WAP/Gateway. Wiring the home for Ethernet is not a possibility due to cost ( one connection for the family room and one for the kids plus ).

For me, I think Powerline is the best solution among all the options presented in the MacWorld article. Looking at the equipment on the Netgear web site I see that I can get a Netgear XE103 85 Mbps Powerline Network Addapter and add a Netgear XE104 85 Mbps Powerline Wall-Plugged Ethernet Switch/Bridge to extend the network for Ethernet end points or Netgear WGX102 54 Mbps Powerline Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender to extend the wireless side. The initial equipment ( I would need at least one X103 and one X104 and WGX102 ) is pricey but I think this is a lot cheaper than wiring Ethernet.

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